Japanese Politics Quotes
At the time Japan had a strong Fascist military wing and the army was not under the control of the civilian government. The government diplomats were less aggressive and expansionist as the military was. The Japanese diplomats would assure other governments like the United States of their peaceful intentions and then the Japanese army would do something that was completely contradictory. As the militarist wing gained domination over the government, the diplomats would strategically lie, and then claim what whatever the army did, was done be rogue officers and was not part of government policy.
The Emperor had ruled Japan as a “living God” with complete dictatorial powers which had been restricted by the Constitution MacArthur had imposed on post-war Japan. It is not clear whether MacArthur actually believed his statement or was just trying to flatter the Emperor whose cooperation MacArthur eagerly sought despite calls for the war crimes indictment of Hirohito.
